Forums >Health and Nutrition>missing periods (possible TMI)
MazyRuns
I've heard that extreme exercise can cause a woman to miss her periods, and I've never considered my running extreme, nor have I ever missed a period due to running. However, I skipped a period. I didn't ovulate when I should have and I'm wondering if it could have been due to running. I decided at the last moment to jump into a local half marathon race and I did well (1:35:38)...I know, nothing crazy. It was a decent amount of up hill though and it was cold and rainy. I also realized later that I should have ovulated that day. The weekend before I ran 15 miles at 8 min pace, and the weekend after the race I ran 8 at somewhere around 8/mile as well. Could that race have been "extreme" enough to have missed a period? I ovulated yesterday, over two weeks late. I haven't been able to run much since the race since my husband hasn't been homme to watch the kiddos. Could the sudden drop in running be throwing me off?
Just curious on thoughts and experiences.
5K--19:01 10k--40:40 half--1:35:47 full--3:17.28
runktrun
The more heavily weighted side of this equation is nutrition. You can be running modest mileage (50 mpw @ 8:00 pace) and start experiencing disruptions in ovulation/menstruation because you are either not taking in enough total calories, or you have big nutrient holes in your diet, from habits such as avoiding all fats. But to answer your immediate question, yes, a change in your regular run/work schedule and thus a change in your stress levels could be enough to mess up your cycle. For instance, I've been running 50-100 mpw for years, 17:15 5k, never had an issue with my cycle until I had surgery on my jaw. Despite cutting back my running (obviously!), I missed my period, likely because of the stress from the surgery and recovery (incredibly painful, lost sleep, not eating well, etc). It sounds like you are pretty in tune with your body, so just watch to see if your cycle gets back to normal as your schedule also does and make sure you're eating a well rounded diet.
Not running for my health, but in spite of it.
Bacon Party!
What kilkee said.
Likely not one race, but could have put you over the edge - an edge that you were sneaking up on anyways. Take a look at your life - esp diet and stress - recent changes and farther back (have you been in a gradual downward spiral?).
It could also just be a fluke.
Liz
pace sera, sera
Thank you.
I always thought I ate like a horse, but when I actually sat back and analyzed it, I do think I eat too few calories. I think it is fairly balanced, but light due to the running. I am starting a food diary just to keep tabs for a few weeks. Stress has been pretty much the same as always.
I tried to look back through my logs to see if running hard/long/racing while ovulating ever happened or effected each other before, but it just isn't somethinng I typically record, so I don't know. (But I'll be thinking about it from now on!)
I think you are right...it is probably mostly food and the race was a coincidence or just enough to go over the edge. My BMI is on the light side and I'm sure age, etc plays a role. I think I have a good idea on which direction to go at least!
queen of headlamps
Totally recovering from this myself -- I don't have a history of any eating disorders or being overly thin, and I'm at a healthy BMI, but when I was training for my half (nothing crazy, maxed at 29 miles per week, as a newbie) and tapering off from nursing, my cycle went all out of whack.
What I learned from talking to my doctor and reading around is that it's not so much being too thin as it is being in a long-term energy deficit; basically, too few calories for the activity level. So it's probably not the one race that was a burst of effort, but more a small long term deficit.
So what I've done is try to eat more, mostly by making sure I have chocolate milk after runs, even if they're just easy five mile loops. I haven't gained weight, and I'm still very lean, but my hormones have recovered. (Um, hurray, periods? )
Might be worth a quick stop by the doctor.
Hey, another running blog.